Exercising device



// April 1938. J. G. VENABLES EXERCISIQNG DEVICE Filed May 17, 1937James 65'. Vemfiies Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES EXERCISINGDEVICE James Gordon Venables, York, Pa., assignor to Robert C. Hoifman,York, Pa., trading as York Bar Bell Company Application May 17, 1937,Serial No. 143,205

6 Claims.

This invention relates to leg exercising devices and in particular tovariable weight means adapted to be strapped to the feet. A specificobject of the invention is the provision of a boot-shaped device theweight of which may be quickly and easily changed and may be shifted inlocation with respect to the axis of the foot on which it is used.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a boot having meansfor quick connection to the bar handle of a dumbbell.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device shown in Figure l, but havingattached thereto a dumbbell.

Figure 4 is a view showing howmy improved device may be used forexercising,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the boot.

As best shown in Figure 1 the preferred embodiment of my inventionconsists of a bootshaped device having a sole portion HI and a heelportion I2 between which is a relatively deep groove 14 locatedtransversely of the boot. At the rear of the device is a heel engagingmember IE. I provide a front strap 20 and a rear strap 22 for holdingthe boot securely to the foot.

Projecting from the back of the heel is a thumb screw 24 which extendsinto the lower portion of the groove l4 and is for the purpose oflocking a bar 25 in the groove, as best shown in Figure 5. The thumbscrew is slidably engaged in the opening 26 at the rear end of theflange 21, forming the heel l2, but has threaded engagement as shown at28 with the transverse portion of the flange. The sole portion of theboot is also provided with a downwardly projecting flange 30 similar tothe flange 21.

The strap 29 is held in apertures 32 in the flange 30, while the strap2| is held in the sloping apertures 33 of the flange 21. In order toreduce the slipping of the foot in the boot on the sole l 0 I providetwo large openings 35 and 36 on each side of the strap 20.

Although the boot is preferably made of a metal of substantial weightand therefore may be used by beginners without any additional weight, Iprovide the groove M with the locking screw 24 so that if desired theuser of the boot may quickly attach additional weights. This may be doneby retracting the screw 24 until the free end 38 clears the groove l4,after which the boot may be placed over the bar 25 of a variable weightdumbbell 40 in the manner shown in Figure 3, after which the thumb screw24 may be tightened until the bar 25 is locked securely in the groove.

It is my intention to provide dumbbells having removable weights 42 heldin place by quickly detachable collars 43 described in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 143,206, filed May 17, 1937. If desired, theweights 42 may be quickly removed from one end of the dumbbell, thuspermitting the bar to be shifted until the remaining weight is spaced adesired distance from the foot, thus providing means for developingcertain muscles that might otherwise not be exercised.

It will be seen that by my invention I have provided a sturdy, simpleboot which may be quickly and easily secured to the foot, the weight ofwhich may be easily changed by simple manipulations.

What I claim is:

l. A leg exercising device comprising a heavy rigid member shaped to fitthe sole of a foot, a downwardly projecting flange at the rear farming aheel, a downwardly projecting flange at the front spaced from the rearflange and forming a sole portion, an upwardly projecting flange abovethe rear flange for receiving the heel of a foot, means for securing themember to a foot and means for locking the handle of a dumbbell in thespace between said downwardly projecting flanges.

2. A leg exerciser comprising in combination, a rigid member shaped toengage the sole of a foot and having a relatively great thickness, saidmember having a deep transverse groove in its under surface separatingthe heel portion from the sole portion, a dumbbell having its handle insaid groove whereby its weights are located on each side of the memberand means for locking said handle in the groove.

3. A leg exercising device comprising a rigid member shaped to engagethe sole of a foot and having relatively great thickness, said memberhaving a deep transverse groove in its undersurface separating the heelportion from the sole portion and releasable means for locking thehandle of a dumbbell in said groove.

4. A leg exercising device comprising a rigid member shaped to engagethe sole of a foot and having relatively great thickness, means forattaching said member to a foot, said member having a deep groove in itsundersurface and releasable means for locking the handle of a dumbbellin said groove.

5. A leg exercising device of adjustably chosen total weight comprisinga top plate approximately conforming in plan to the outline of the soleof a human foot and having a depending peripheral flange to elevate theplate a sufficient distance from a supporting surface such as a floor asto provide for the reception of a removable transverse weight elementsuch as the bar of a dumbbell between the users foot and the floor, saidperipheral flange having a transverse opening therethrough to receivesaid added weight, means for securing the device to the users foot andmeans for detachably holding said added weight element in desiredposition in said opening.

6. A leg exercising device adapted to be used in combination withvariable weight dumbbells comprising a metal member approximatelyconforming in plan to the sole of a human foot and being ofsubstantially greater thickness than the diameter of the handle of adumbbell, said member having a transverse opening therein for receivingsuch a handle whereby a dumbbell may be releasably connected to thedevice and means for securing the device to the foot of a user.

JAMES GORDON VENABLES.

